Cameron Ally Resigns in UK Expenses Row

British Culture Secretary Maria Miller, who was in charge of legislation on press regulation and gay marriage, resigned Wednesday after an embarrassing row over her parliamentary expense account.

Miller becomes the latest politician to step down because of questionable expense claims. A 2010 inquiry found that more than half of Britain's legislators had made excessive or bogus claims - seeking reimbursement for items including porn movies, horse manure and an ornamental duck house.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who had publicly backed Miller over the past week despite mounting concerns of a number of people in his Conservative Party, accepted her decision and said he hoped she could return to the Cabinet at some point.

He told Parliament that Miller had been cleared of the "very serious" offense of housing her parents at taxpayers' expense but had still made some mistakes, including failing to cooperate fully with an inquiry. Cameron conceded that public concern about parliamentary expense abuses has not subsided despite reforms to the system that have added more public oversight.

"The anger is still very raw," he said.

The controversy over Miller's expenses comes as Cameron's Conservatives face a tough battle in May elections for the European Parliament.

In her letter to Cameron, Miller said the controversy over her housing expenses had become a "distraction" from the government's work. Though Miller apologized to constituents and to Parliament after questions were raised about her expense claims, she said the storm around her position had made it impossible for her to remain in the Cabinet.

Miller has repaid 5,800 pounds ($9,700), a figure which had been reduced by a parliamentary panel from an initial recommendation of 45,000 pounds. She said she had hoped to remain in her position after a parliamentary review committee cleared her of more serious financial abuse allegations.

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